ZA200206742B - Non-sticking container for ice cream. - Google Patents

Description

) . E WO 01/54990 PCT/EP00/08165

NON-STICKING CONTAINER FOR ICE CREAM : DESCRIPTION . 5 ’ SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present application is an improved container for ice confectionery articles for dispensing equipment comprising freezer cabinets and vending machines which incorporates noteworthy innovations and advantages compared with current containers and objects for a similar purpose.

More specifically, the novel invention has devised a container, especially made of cardboard, for ice confectionery which is suitable for use in dispensing equipment, characterized in that it has a series of at least two encircling, low-height ribs distributed over its contour which facilitate detachment of the stacked containers and prevents them adhering together and to the walls of the apparatus by means of frost or ice.

BACKGROUND QF THE INVENTION

There are currently a variety of types of machine for automatically dispensing food products and beverages on the market. Common amongst this type of machine are those which arrange the product containers in columns in order to dispense them under gravity. These containers are generally metallic and their temperature never reaches freezing point, with the result that supplying them individually creates no problems. ot Hitherto, there has been no known automatic dispensing ] 35 of ice confectionery contained in containers which allow them to be supplied individually under gravity. Unlike currently known containers, these containers have to be at temperatures below freezing point so that the contents maintain their frozen

3 a WO 01/54990 PCT/EP00/08165 form, which means that frost and ice form inside the machines and are deposited on the containers, provided especially in cardboard, it being possible for the said containers to adhere h to one another and to the contact walls, making their +» 5 detachment and individual supply difficult or impossible, and ’ it is precisely this drawback which the container which is the subject of the present invention aims to overcome.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved container for ice confectionery for dispensing equipment, which is the subject of the present invention, is characterized in that it comprises a body of regular shape, such as a cylindrical or prismatic shape, which has means for preventing the formation of frost or ice on its surface giving rise to firm adhesion, this being easily broken.

In the context of the invention articles of ice confectionery mean portions of ice Cream, water ice, sherbet, sorbet in the form of sticks, cylinders, sandwiches, bars, morsels or cones.

Correct storage of ice confectionery actually requires the storage receptacle to be at a temperature which is considerably below the freezing temperature. At this temperature, water vapour in the air easily freezes, forming a layer of frost which covers all exposed surfaces. This layer of frost can become quite thick, but the main problem posed is that it can join the surface of bodies via their points of contact. Ice confectionery containers, which are normally stacked, may then be joined by said frost in the areas where they are in contact. In order to prevent this effect, the novel invention has made provision for the existence of a series of ) ribs or low reliefs encircling the containers. Indeed, the . containers, which are normally stacked on their side inside the machine, are in contact only via the aforesaid ribs, significantly reducing the surface area in mutual contact. Ag said contact points are of reduced surface area, the frost

. Cs exerts an adhesive power which is also reduced, being easily broken through the eff:act of gravity or a slight vibration. ! Provision has been made for the container to have, near 0 5 to one end, a weakened encircling double line which, together > with a tear-off tab located at a specific point along its length, forms an opening means.

In order to supplement the description which will be given below and in order to aid better comprehension of the characteristics of the present invention, the present description is accompanied by a set of drawings whose figures show the most significant details of the invention in an illustrative and non-limiting manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1. This shows a perspective view of the container.

Figure 2. This shows a view of two stacked containers.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the light of the aforesaid figures and in accordance with the numbering adopted it is possible to see therein a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the invention, which consists of a preferably cylindrical body (1) which has, distributed over its contour, a series of encircling ribs (2), two encircling weakened lines being located on one side and configuring a tear-off opening strip.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS an 5 1. Improved container for ice confectionery for dispensing v equipment, of the type consisting of a cylindrical or prismatic body, preferably made from cardboard, characterized in that said body has means for preventing the formation of frost or ice on its surface giving rise to firm adhesion, which comprise a series of at least two encircling, low-height ribs distributed over its contour, which are operationally arranged in order to form small points of contact between stacked containers.
2. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a tear-off opening strip.
3. 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the tear-off opening strip comprises two encircling weakened lines located on one side.
4. 4. Use of the container according to any of claims 1 to 3, for dispensing ice confectionery in frozen cabinets.
5. 5. Use of the container according to any of claims 1 to 3, for dispensing ice confectionery in automatic vending machines.